Patrick Mouratoglou’s relationship with Naomi Osaka lasted just 10 months, but when they parted ways in July 2025, the renowned coach left her with words that revealed his true feelings about her potential.
It appears that the split wasn’t contentious – it was optimistic, with Mouratoglou believing Osaka was closer to greatness than ever before.
What Did Coach Patrick Mouratoglou Tell Naomi Osaka Following Their Split?
The French coach and former world No. 1 began working together in September 2024, following Osaka’s split from Belgian coach Wim Fissette after the US Open.
Their partnership started at the 2024 China Open, where Osaka defeated Lucia Bronzetti, Yulia Putintseva, and Katie Volynets before retiring from her fourth-round match against eventual champion Coco Gauff due to a lower back injury.
Despite the brief duration of their collaboration, Mouratoglou guided Osaka to some notable results. She finished as the runner-up at the 2025 ASB Classic and secured a title at the 2025 L’Open 35 de Saint-Malo, where she defeated Kaja Juvan in the final.
When they announced their split in July 2025, the parting was amicable. Osaka took to social media to express her gratitude, posting on X:
“Merci Patrick ❤️ it was such a great experience learning from you. Wishing you nothing but the best. You are one of the coolest people l’ve ever met and I’m sure I’ll see you around 🙏🏾”
Merci Patrick ❤️ it was such a great experience learning from you. Wishing you nothing but the best. You are one of the coolest people l’ve ever met and I’m sure I’ll see you around 🙏🏾 pic.twitter.com/oLInWTyeYw
— NaomiOsaka大坂なおみ (@naomiosaka) July 27, 2025
In a recent interview with CNN Sports, Mouratoglou revealed exactly what he told Osaka when their coaching relationship ended. The conversation was filled with confidence about her future prospects.
“And when we stopped, I said to her, ‘I mean, I think you’re ready. If you find the person that will help you get back your efficiency during the matches, I think you’re ready to do great results right now, and I hope it’s going to happen very soon,'” Mouratoglou shared.
The former World No. 1 began a trial collaboration with Iga Świątek’s former coach Tomasz Wiktorowski at the ongoing Canadian Open.
Mouratoglou’s assessment wasn’t just polite farewell talk. He genuinely believes Osaka has regained the physical tools that made her a champion. He praised her as a “great competitor” and a “great champion,” emphasizing that her return to form is inevitable.
“Physically, she is ready, and she’s a great competitor, she’s a great champion. So at some point, it’s going to work out. I have no doubt about it,” Mouratoglou said.
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How Is Osaka Proving Mouratoglou Right at the 2025 Canadian Open?
Mouratoglou’s words are already looking prophetic. Osaka is currently competing at the 2025 Canadian Open in Montreal, where she has advanced to the semifinals with a series of dominant performances. She defeated qualifier Ariana Arseneault 6-4, 6-2, then overcame 13th seed Liudmila Samsonova 4-6, 7-6(6), 6-3 in a thrilling three-set battle.
The former world No. 1 continued her strong form by defeating 22nd seed Jeļena Ostapenko 6-2, 6-4 and Anastasija Sevastova 6-1, 6-0 in the following rounds. Her most convincing victory came in the quarterfinals, where she dominated 10th seed Elina Svitolina 6-2, 6-2 to secure her spot in the semifinals.
In the semifinals, Osaka will face 16th seed Clara Tauson, setting up a rematch of their 2025 ASB Classic final. That previous encounter ended in disappointment for Osaka, who was forced to retire due to an abdominal injury with Tauson leading 6-4, 0-0.
Speaking about the upcoming semifinal, Osaka expressed her excitement about getting another chance against the Danish player while healthy: “She’s really tough. I played her in Auckland this year, and I had to stop halfway because I was injured. So, I’m really excited that I’m healthy, and I hope that it’s a good match for everyone that comes and watches.”
Tauson has also been in excellent form at the Canadian Open, defeating several high-profile opponents on her way to the semifinals. She dispatched Lucia Bronzetti 6-1, 6-2, Yuliia Starodubtseva 6-3, 6-0, and second seed Iga Świątek 7-6(1), 6-3 before securing a commanding 6-1, 6-4 victory over sixth seed Madison Keys in the quarterfinals.
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The winner of the Osaka-Tauson semifinal will advance to the final, where they will face either ninth seed Elena Rybakina or wild card Victoria Mboko. For Osaka, reaching this stage at a WTA 1000 event represents exactly the kind of “great results” Mouratoglou predicted she was ready to achieve.
The timing of Mouratoglou’s optimistic assessment and Osaka’s current success in Montreal suggests his parting words weren’t just encouragement; they were recognition of a champion finding her way back to the top level of the game.
